Passenger air bag system for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A passenger air bag system for vehicles includes an air bag housing mounted to an instrument panel at the front part thereof, a cushion accommodated in the air bag housing such that the cushion is expanded to the front of a passenger seated in a passenger seat when a collision of the vehicle occurs, a retainer attached to the air bag housing for supporting the cushion, an inflator having the upper end vertically inserted into the rear part of the air bag housing in the normal direction thereof for discharging gas to the cushion, and an inflator housing attached to the rear part of the air bag housing for fixing the inflator. The upper end of the inflator is mounted in the inflator housing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Korean Application No. 10-2003-72618, filed on Oct. 17, 2003, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air bag system for vehicles, and more particularly to a passenger air bag system for vehicles, which is capable of preventing eccentric expansion of a cushion when a collision of the vehicle occurs by improvement of the installation structure of an air bag housing and an inflator.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, an air bag system for vehicles is mounted in front of a driver seat or a passenger seat in such a manner that a cushion of the air bag system is instantly expanded when a collision of the vehicle occurs for protecting a driver or a passenger from injury.

The air bag systems may be classified into a driver air bag system and a passenger air bag system. The driver air bag system is mounted to the steering wheel of the vehicle for protecting the driver from injury. The passenger air bag system is mounted to an instrument panel of the vehicle disposed in front of the passenger seat for protecting the passenger from injury. Basically, the driver air bag system is requisite, and the passenger air bag system is optional; however, vehicles with passenger air bag systems basically mounted therein for protecting passengers from injury are on the increase in recent years.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional passenger air bag system, FIG. 2 is a front view, in section, showing the conventional passenger air bag system, and FIG. 3 is a side view, in section, showing the conventional passenger air bag system.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the conventional passenger air bag system for vehicles comprises: an air bag housing 4 mounted to an instrument panel 2; an inflator 6 attached to the rear part of the air bag housing 4 for discharging gas when a collision of the vehicle occurs; a cushion 8 accommodated in the front part of the air bag housing 4 such that the cushion 8 is expanded to the front of a passenger seat by means of gas discharged from the inflator 6; and a retainer 10 attached to the air bag housing 4 between the cushion 8 and the inflator 6 for supporting the cushion 8, the retainer 10 having a plurality of gas-guiding holes 10 a for guiding gas discharged from the inflator 6 to the cushion 8.

The air bag housing 4 comprises: a cushion housing 12 formed in the shape of a box with the front part opened so that the cushion 8 is accommodated in the cushion housing 12 while being folded; and a can housing 14 connected to the rear part of the cushion housing 12, in which the inflator 6 is disposed.

The cushion housing 12 is provided at both longitudinal sides thereof with flanges 12 a, respectively, which are fixed to the rear part of the instrument panel 2 by means of bolts. At the instrument panel 2 is formed a cut line 2 a so that the instrument panel 2 is easily and smoothly broken along the cut line 2 a by means of the expanding pressure of the cushion 8.

The can housing 14 is connected to the rear part of the cushion housing 12 in such a manner that the can housing 14 communicates with the cushion housing 12. The can housing 14 is provided at the outside thereof with a mounting bracket 16, which is fixed to a cowl cross member 18 by means of a bolt.

The inflator 6 is formed in the shape of a cylinder. The inflator 6 is provided on the outer circumference at one side thereof with a plurality of gas-discharging holes 20 for discharging gas when a collision of the vehicle occurs.

At one end of the inflator 6 is formed a fixing protrusion 22 having a male screw thread part formed on the outer circumference thereof, on which a fixing nut 24 is rotatably fitted so that the inflator 6 is attached to the side of the can housing 14. At the other end of the inflator 6 is formed a connector-connecting member 26 in such a manner that the connector-connecting member 26 is protruded outwardly. To the inflator 6 is connected a connector 28, by which the inflator 6 is linked to an external component, through the connector-connecting member 26.

The connector 28 is disposed outside the air bag housing 4. One end of the connector 28 is connected to the connector-connecting member 26 via a wire 24 a, and the other end of the connector 28 is connected to an electronic control unit and a power supply terminal via the wire 24 a.

When a collision of the vehicle is detected by means of a collision-detecting sensor (not shown) mounted to the vehicle, an operation signal is transmitted from the electronic control unit to the inflator 6 via the connecter 28. The inflator 6 is exploded by means of electric current supplied from the power supply terminal for discharging gas having more than a prescribed pressure through the gas-discharging holes 20.

The inlet part of the cushion 8 is disposed between the retainer 10 and the can housing 14, and is attached to the can housing 14 together with the retainer 10 by means of bolts so that the cushion 8 can be fixedly supported by means of the retainer 10.

In the conventional passenger air bag system for vehicles with the above-stated construction, the operation signal is transmitted from the electronic control unit to the inflator 6 via the connector 28 when a collision of the vehicle occurs, and then the inflator 6, to which electric current is supplied from the power supply terminal, is exploded to discharge gas through the gas-discharging holes 20.

The gas discharged from the inflator 6 flows along the can housing 14 so that the gas is supplied into the cushion 8 through the gas-guiding holes 10 a of the retainer 10. The cushion 8 is expanded to the front of the cushion housing 12 by means of the gas supplied into the cushion 8.

The instrument panel 2 is broken along the cut line 2 a formed at the instrument panel 2 by means of the cushion 8 expanded as described above. Subsequently, the cushion 8 is expanded toward a passenger seated in the passenger seat, whereby shock transmitted to the passenger is effectively absorbed, and thus injury to the passenger is minimized.

In the conventional passenger air bag system for vehicles, however, the inflator 6 is horizontally disposed in the can housing 14, and the gas-discharging holes 20 are provided adjacent to one end of the inflator 6. As a result, the cushion 8 is eccentrically expanded by means of the gas discharged from the inflator 6 when a collision of the vehicle occurs.

In other words, the gas-discharging holes 20 of the inflator 6 are eccentrically arranged, whereby the gas is not uniformly supplied into the cushion 8 with the result that the expansion shape of the cushion 8 differs from the designed shape of the cushion 8. Consequently, a shock-absorbing function of the cushion 8 is incomplete, whereby safety and reliability of the air bag system are deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a passenger air bag system for vehicles having an inflator attached to an air bag housing such that gas-discharging holes are arranged at the center of the air bag housing, whereby a cushion is expanded in a uniform shape not in an eccentric shape by means of gas discharged through the gas-discharging holes when a collision of the vehicle occurs, and thus injury to a passenger is minimized.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a passenger air bag system for vehicles, comprising: an air bag housing mounted to an instrument panel at the front part thereof; a cushion accommodated in the air bag housing such that the cushion is expanded to the front of a passenger seated in a passenger seat when a collision of the vehicle occurs; a retainer attached to the air bag housing for supporting the cushion; an inflator having the upper end vertically inserted into the rear part of the air bag housing in the normal direction thereof for discharging gas to the cushion; and an inflator housing attached to the rear part of the air bag housing for fixing the inflator, the upper end of the inflator being mounted in the inflator housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional passenger air bag system;

FIG. 2 is a front view, in section, showing the conventional passenger air bag system;

FIG. 3 is a side view, in section, showing the conventional passenger air bag system;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a passenger air bag system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view, in section, showing the passenger air bag system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the passenger air bag system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an inflator and an inflator housing of the passenger air bag system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a passenger air bag system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view, in section, showing the passenger air bag system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the passenger air bag system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an inflator and an inflator housing of the passenger air bag system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the passenger air bag system for vehicles according to the present invention comprises: an air bag housing 54 mounted to an instrument panel 52 at the front part thereof; a cushion 56 accommodated in the air bag housing 54 such that the cushion 56 is expanded to the front of a passenger seated in a passenger seat when a collision of the vehicle occurs; a retainer 58 attached to the air bag housing 54 for supporting the cushion 56; an inflator 60 having the upper end vertically inserted into the rear part of the air bag housing 54 in the normal direction thereof for discharging gas to the cushion 56; and an inflator housing 62 attached to the rear part of the air bag housing 54 for fixing the inflator 60. The upper end of the inflator 60 is mounted in the inflator housing 62.

The air bag housing 54 is formed in the shape of a box with the front part opened so that the cushion 56 is accommodated in the air bag housing 54 while being folded. The air bag housing 54 is provided at both longitudinal sides thereof with housing brackets 54 a, respectively, which are fixed to the rear part of the instrument panel 52 by means of bolts.

One side of the respective housing brackets 54 a is attached to the air bag housing 54, and the other side of the respective housing brackets 54 a is bent to the outside of the air bag housing 54 such that the cross section of the respective brackets 54 a is formed in the shape of a “┐”. The bent side of the respective housing brackets 54 a is fixed to the instrument panel 52 by means of bolts so that the air bag housing 54 is securely fixed to the rear part of the instrument panel 52.

At the instrument panel 52 is formed a cut line 52 a so that the instrument panel 52 is quickly and smoothly broken along the cut line 52 a by means of the expanding pressure of the cushion 56 when the cushion 56 is expanded.

The air bag housing 54 formed as described above is provided at the center of the rear part thereof with a mounting hole 64, through which the upper end of the inflator 60 is mounted. In the mounting hole 64 is also fitted the inflator housing 62.

Specifically, the upper end of the inflator 60 is inserted in the inflator housing 62, and the inflator housing 62 is mounted in the mounting hole 64 of the air bag housing 54, which does not require the can housing used to accommodate the inflator 60 in the conventional air bag system. Consequently, the air bag housing 54 is formed with the simple structure.

The inflator 60 is formed in the shape of a cylinder, and vertically attached to the center part of the air bag housing 54. Specifically, the upper end of the inflator 60, which is inserted in the inflator housing 62, is mounted in the mounting hole 64 of the air bag housing 54.

The upper end of the inflator 60 is disposed in the air bag housing 54, and on the outer circumference of the inflator 60 adjacent to the upper end of the inflator 60 are formed a plurality of gas-discharging holes 66 for discharging gas when a collision of the vehicle occurs.

The gas-discharging holes 66 are evenly formed along the outer circumference of the inflator 60 adjacent to the upper end of the inflator 60 so that the gas discharged from the inflator 60 is uniformly supplied and diffused into the air bag housing 54.

At the lower end of the inflator 60 is formed a connector-connecting member 68 in such a manner that the connector-connecting member 68 is protruded from the lower end of the inflator 60. To the connector-connecting member 68 is connected a connector 70, by means of which an external device, such as an electronic control unit (not shown) or a power supply terminal (not shown), is connected to the inflator 60 so that an operation signal or electric current is transmitted from the external device to the inflator 60 via the connector 70.

The retainer 58 has an opening 58 a formed at the center thereof so that the retainer 58 is formed in the shape of a square frame. The retainer 62 is provided along the edge thereof with a plurality of fixing holes, through which fixing bolts are inserted, respectively, so that the retainer 58 is fixed to the inner rear part of the air bag housing 54 by means of the combination of the fixing bolts and the corresponding fixing holes.

In the opening 58 a of the retainer 58 is placed the mounting hole 64. Consequently, the inflator 60 and the inflator housing 62 are disposed in the opening 58 a of the retainer 58.

The inflator housing 62 comprises: an inflator housing body 72 inserted through the mounting hole 64 of the air bag housing 54 such that the upper end of the inflator 60 is mounted in the inflator housing body 72; and a fixing flange 74 formed at the outer circumference of the inflator housing body 72 such that the fixing flange 74 is protruded from the outer circumference of the inflator housing body 72, the fixing flange 74 being attached to the rear part of the air bag housing 54.

The inflator housing body 72 has an insertion hole 72 a formed therein, in which the upper end of the inflator 60 is inserted. The insertion hole 72 a of the inflator housing body 72 has the same section as the inflator 60.

The inflator housing body 72 constructed as described above is provided at the outer circumference thereof with a plurality of gas-guiding holes 76, through which the gas discharged from the inflator 60 is guided into the cushion 56. The gas-guiding holes 76 correspond to the gas-discharging holes 66, which are evenly formed along the outer circumference of the inflator 60 adjacent to the upper end of the inflator 60, respectively.

Preferably, the size of each of the gas-guiding holes 76 is larger than that of each of the gas-discharging holes 66 so that the gas discharged from the inflator 60 through the gas-discharging holes 66 is smoothly guided to the outside of the inflator housing 62.

The inflator housing body 72 is provided at the upper part thereof with a though-hole 78. At the upper end of the inflator 60 is formed a fixing protrusion 80, which is inserted though the though-hole 78 of the inflator housing body 72 from bottom to top.

The fixing protrusion 80 has a male screw thread part formed on the outer circumference thereof, on which a fixing nut 82 is rotatably fitted so that the fixing protrusion 80 inserted through the through-hole 78 is securely fitted in the fixing nut 82. Consequently, the inflator 60 is fixed to the inflator housing body 72.

The fixing flange 74 is formed at the outer circumference of the inflator housing body 72 such that the fixing flange 74 is protruded from the outer circumference of the inflator housing body 72. The fixing flange 74 is disposed in the air bag housing 54 so that the fixing flange 74 is attached to the rear part of the air bag housing 54.

Consequently, the size of the fixing flange 74 is preferably smaller than that of the opening 58 a of the retainer 58. The inflator 60 is forcibly inserted through the insertion hole 72 a of the inflator housing body 72 so that airtightness is guaranteed between the inflator 60 and the inflator housing 62.

Alternatively, there may be provided a seal in order to improve the airtightness between the inflator 60 and the inflator housing 62 or between the inflator housing 62 and the air bag housing 54.

Now, the operation of the passenger air bag system with the above-stated construction according to the present invention will be described in detail.

When a collision of the vehicle occurs, an operation signal is transmitted from the electronic control unit to the inflator 60 via the connecter 70. The inflator 60 is exploded by means of electric current supplied from the power supply terminal for discharging gas to the air bag housing 54 through the gas-discharging holes 66.

At this time, the gas discharged from the inflator 60 through the gas-discharging holes 66 is uniformly guided and diffused in the air bag housing 54 through the gas-guiding holes 76 since the inflator 60 is disposed at the center of the air bag housing 54 and the gas-discharging holes 66 are evenly formed on the outer circumference of the inflator 60 adjacent to the upper end of the inflator 60.

As a result, the gas discharged from the inflator 60 is uniformly supplied into the air bag housing 54, and thus the gas is also uniformly supplied to the cushion 56 accommodated in the air bag housing 54 irrespective of the position of the cushion 56. Consequently, the gas is constantly and uniformly introduced into the cushion 56, whereby the cushion 56 is expanded to the front of the passenger seat according to the designed optimum shape of the cushion 56 without eccentric expansion of the cushion 56.

When the cushion 56 is expanded, the instrument panel 52 is broken along the cut line 52 a formed at the instrument panel 52, and then the cushion 56 is further expanded to the front of the passenger seat so that shock transmitted to the passenger seated in the passenger seat is effectively absorbed.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a passenger air bag system for vehicles having an inflator directly mounted to the rear center part of an air bag housing so that gas discharged from the inflator is uniformly supplied to a cushion accommodated in the air bag housing. Consequently, the present invention has an effect of preventing an eccentric phenomenon of a cushion when the cushion is expanded.

As the eccentric phenomenon of the cushion is prevented as described above, the cushion is uniformly expanded according to the optimum shape of the cushion when a collision of the vehicle occurs, whereby further injury to a passenger due to the incomplete expansion of the cushion is avoided, and thus safety and reliability of the passenger air bag system are increased.

Also, the inflator is directly mounted in the air bag housing, which eliminates the necessity of provision of a can housing for accommodating the inflator therein as in the conventional air bag system. Consequently, the inflator can be mounted in the air bag housing by means of an inflator housing, which is small and simple.

According to the present invention, the upper end of the inflator is attached to the rear part of the air bag housing by means of the inflator housing, the air bag housing can be manufactured with the simple structure. Consequently, the number and the total weight of components of the air bag system are reduced. Also, the assembly operation of the air bag housing is simple, whereby efficiency of the assembly operation is improved.

Furthermore, the air bag system can be easily manufactured, whereby productivity is improved. Also, the cost of manufacturing the air bag system is reduced, whereby competitive power of the air bag system is improved.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A passenger air bag system for a vehicle, comprising: an air bag housing mounted to an instrument panel at a front part thereof; a cushion accommodated in the air bag housing such that the cushion is expanded to a front of a passenger seated in a passenger seat when a collision of the vehicle occurs; a retainer attached to the air bag housing configured to support the cushion; an inflator having an upper end vertically inserted into a rear part of the air bag housing in a direction generally normal to a plane of the air bag housing, and configured to discharge gas to the cushion, the upper end of the inflator including a plurality of gas-discharging holes; and an inflator housing attached to the rear part of the air bag housing and configured to fixedly maintain the inflator, the upper end of the inflator being mounted in the inflator housing, wherein the inflator housing includes a plurality of gas-guiding holes, each corresponding to a respective one of the gas-discharging holes, and wherein the gas-guiding holes flushly contact the upper end of the inflator.
 2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the air bag housing is provided at both sides thereof with housing brackets, respectively, the housing brackets being fixed to the instrument panel.
 3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein one side of the respective housing brackets is attached to the air bag housing, and the other side of the respective housing brackets is bent to the outside of the air bag housing so that the air bag housing is fixed to the instrument panel by bolts.
 4. The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the air bag housing is provided at the center of the rear part thereof with a mounting hole for allowing the inflator housing to be inserted therethrough.
 5. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the retainer is provided along the edge thereof with a plurality of fixing holes so that the retainer is fixed to the inner rear part of the air bag housing by fixing bolts, and wherein the retainer has an opening formed at the center thereof so that the inflator housing is inserted through the mounting hole.
 6. The system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the retainer is formed in the shape of a square frame.
 7. The system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the inflator housing comprises: an inflator housing body inserted through the mounting hole of the air bag housing such that the upper end of the inflator is mounted in the inflator housing body; and a fixing flange formed at the outer circumference of the inflator housing body such that the fixing flange is protruded from the outer circumference of the inflator housing body, the fixing flange being attached to the rear part of the air bag housing.
 8. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the inflator housing body has an insertion hole formed therein so that the upper end of the inflator is inserted through the insertion hole.
 9. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the insertion hole of the inflator housing body has the same diameter as the inflator.
 10. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the fixing flange is formed at the outer circumference of the inflator housing body such that the fixing flange is protruded from the outer circumference of the inflator housing body.
 11. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the fixing flange is disposed in the air bag housing so that the fixing flange is attached to the rear part of the air bag housing.
 12. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the size of the fixing flange is smaller than that of the opening of the retainer.
 13. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the inflator is provided at the upper end thereof with a fixing protrusion, the inflator housing body is provided at the upper part thereof with a though-hole for allowing the fixing protrusion to be inserted therethrough, the fixing protrusion inserted through the through-hole being securely fitted in the fixing nut so that the inflator is fixed to the inflator housing body.
 14. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the fixing protrusion of the inflator has a male screw thread part formed on the outer circumference thereof.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the gas-discharging holes are evenly spaced along an outer circumference of the inflator.
 17. The system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the inflator housing body is provided at the outer circumference thereof with the gas-guiding holes for allowing the gas discharged from the inflator to be guided into the cushion therethrough.
 18. The system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the gas-guiding holes are arranged such that the gas-guiding holes correspond to the gas-discharging holes, respectively. 